The 2025 Formula 1 season is going to be characteised by a host of driver movements up and down the grid and the presence of at least four rookies in the paddock.
Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto and Jack Doohan have all been confirmed as part of the 2025 F1 grid and they could be joined by two more rookies next season.
Liam Lawson has never taken part in a full Formula 1 season and would technically fill that criteria, but it’s yet to be seen whether he’ll be racing for his current RB or earn a promotion to the senior Red Bull outfit.
Sergio Perez is on the cusp of losing his Red Bull seat and whether it’s Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda who is promoted in his place, another driver is needed within the Red Bull ecosphere.
Franco Colapinto no longer appears to be on Red Bull’s radar, meaning young driver Isack Hadjar may be in line for an RB promotion.
Journalist Mat Coch was speaking on the Pit Talk Podcast and believes something he spotted the young Frenchman doing during the Qatar Grand Prix race weekend suggests he already knows he’ll be an F1 driver next year.
Isack Hadjar a ‘different person’ at the Qatar Grand Prix amid RB rumours
Coch was discussing Hadjar’s F2 weekend in Qatar and said: “This is the other piece that makes me think that a decision’s been made.
“So, Hadjar has a reputation for being a dour Frenchman I think is probably the best way to put it.
“But in Qatar, he was bouncing around like a kid at Christmas. He was a different person.
“And that’s not just my own observations, that’s direct commentary from contacts within the Formula 2 paddock who were working directly with him over the course of the weekend and have first-hand experience with him throughout the season and on that weekend.
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“They made specific note of the change of demeanour to me and how they thought that meant that a pretty significant decision had been made in his favour.
“So, I think all the pieces are already decided, we just have to get beyond Abu Dhabi for that to be communicated to us.”
Isack Hadjar could earn RB promotion as a Formula 2 champion
Hadjar has a busy week coming up in Abu Dhabi that could have a huge impact on his future.
The youngster will take part in an F2 practice session before jumping into Max Verstappen’s car during Formula 1’s first hour of practice.
He’ll then go into qualifying knowing that he needs to set a time in the top-10 to be in contention for both the Sprint Race and the Feature Race.
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Sauber’s new driver Bortoleto has a half-point lead over Hadjar going into the last weekend of the F2 season as a result of finishing at exactly the same time as Dennis Hauger during the Sprint Race of the Italian Grand Prix.
| Driver | Team | F1 Team | Points |
| Gabriel Bortoleto | Invicta Racing | McLaren* | 188.5 |
| Isack Hadjar | Campos Racing | Red Bull/RB | 188 |
| Paul Aron | Hitech Pulse-Eight | Alpine** | 163 |
*Gabriel Bortoleto will leave McLaren’s junior program for Sauber at the end of the season
**Paul Aron becomes Alpine’s reserve driver in 2025
Hadjar is then expected to take part in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi for Red Bull as they have to run a rookie in that session.
Although Red Bull’s shareholders are expected to hold a meeting on Monday to decide the future of their driver line-ups, Hadjar may already have an inkling that he’s about to earn a coveted promotion into Formula 1.
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